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From an elevated Indian-Fusion restaurant, to a bar that picks up where Purdy Lounge left off, this Sunset Harbour spot has something for everyone.
A mom-and-pop owned venue is making Sunset Harbour cool again with two new and unique concepts. Located at the corner of 18th Street and Bay Road, this 1,300 square foot venue offers both a restaurant and bar, each with distinct personalities that have been missing from the neighborhood.
With two different experiences available, guests looking to enjoy an upscale evening, or to belt their hearts out at Karaoke Thursdays, will find restaurant Diya and BackRoom bar the perfect South Beach destinations for any night of the week.
Diya
Since opening in 2020, this Indian restaurant’s unique, vegetarian dishes made it a favorite for locals and tourists alike. This month, a new, reimagined menu brings a modern take to its classic cuisine.
Diya’s new tapas-style offerings blend the flavors of India with other Southeast Asian influences for small plates that offer diners a bevy of options. Guests can enjoy classic flavors, like Palak Paneer, as well as fusion dishes including Crispy Rice, Chana Tacos and the Kofta Pasta – a decadent dish made with creamy cashew sauce. All of which are vegetarian and made with locally sourced ingredients.
At Diya’s cocktail lab, drinks are made with fresh ingredients and syrups crafted in house. Guests can sip on unique drink offerings, that include “The Vaccine” made with single malt, fresh turmeric, and kashmiri chili, and the “Oaxaca Sunset” made with 400 Conejos Mezcal, fresh beets, ginger, lime, crushed black pepper and kashmiri chili.
The 126 seat restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining. Diya’s stylish and sophisticated interior offers an elevated dining experience. Outside, guests can dine on Diya’s photo-friendly dishes and cocktails while taking in the sights and sounds of South Beach. At night, lighting and DJs transform the space to create a lounge-vibe for enjoying cocktails and tapas.
BackRoom
A casual bar that may just fill the hole left in Miami’s heart by the closure of Purdy Lounge, recently opened BackRoom will offer a variety of programming, as well as craft cocktails and vegetarian bar bites.
With a stage, pool table and multiple TVs, BackRoom is an ideal destination for game day, an afternoon hangout with friends, or a night out. Guests at BackRoom can enjoy weekly live music, or take the stage themselves, starting this summer, with Karaoke every Thursday. Plus, weekly drink specials, like $5 beer and well drinks on Tuesdays, make BackRoom a go-to spot for after-work cocktails.
At the heart of Diya and BackRoom is a chef-driven kitchen. Chef Vidya Maharaj, who is also an epidemiologist, designed a menu for both concepts with an emphasis on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. “When developing the menus for Diya and BackRoom, I set out to create dishes that are great for your Instagram feed, and good to your body.” explains Maharaj. “Additionally, because we’re located in a neighborhood that’s been impacted directly by climate change, it was important for me to have meatless and locally sourced cuisine that has limited impacts on the environment.”
Diya and BackRoom are located at 1766 Bay Rd. Diya is open Tuesday – Friday from 4 – 11 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday from 12 – 11 p.m. BackRoom is open Tuesday – Sunday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information visit https://diyamiami.com or follow @diyamiami on Instagram.
